For a study, researchers sought to understand that newborns often self-cure from jaundice during the first 2 weeks of life, but if it persists beyond this time, medical attention is necessary. In newborns, hyperbilirubinemia, either unconjugated or conjugated, may indicate cholestasis due to a considerable decrease in bile secretion and bile flow. This can occur even in the absence of cholestasis. There is a diverse set of potential triggers that can result in neonatal cholestasis. Patients who report an elevated conjugated bilirubin level should have infant choledocholithiasis considered as part of their differential diagnosis, even though it is a rather uncommon cause of neonatal cholestasis. Here, investigators shared the story of a newborn diagnosed with neonatal cholestasis. Consequently, he underwent testing to determine whether or not he had biliary atresia, which is one of the most pressing diagnoses that need to be made in babies with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. The diagnosis of choledocholithiasis was established with the use of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. In the course of his conservative care, he received nutritional support as well as therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid. They discovered that choledocholithiasis and conjugated hyperbilirubinemia could be resolved with conservative care, including nutritional optimization and treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid.
Source: bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-022-03560-3
